Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

2003-04: Played Tier II junior hockey with South Surrey of the BCHL. Scored 19 goals with 22 assists in 58 games.
2004-05: Selected to the BCHL All-Star game and put up huge numbers 48 goals and 97 points in 60 games with the Eagles. Committed to attending North Dakota.
2005-06: Appeared in 46 games with the Sioux as a freshman, scoring 7 goals with 6 assists.
2006-07: Following a promising freshman year, Kozek was limited to a checking line role in a lineup that featured 11 NHL draft picks and his scoring numbers dipped as a result. In 41 games, Kozek scored 5 goals with 6 assists in 41. Team-wise, the Fighting Sioux had some success, winning 24 games and reaching the WCHA Championship game and NCAA Frozen Four.
2007-08: North Dakota was again one of the top teams in the country and Kozek was a bit of a sniper – scoring 18 goals in 42 games including five on the power play and three game winners. Despite winning 28 games, North Dakota was defeated in the semifinals of both the WCHA tournament and the Frozen four.
2008-09: Kozek’s final season with North Dakota again saw him in a third line role as North Dakota had one of the deepest forward corps in college hockey. In 38 games, he scored 8 goals with a career-high 12 assists. Following the Sioux’s heart-breaking 6-5 OT loss to New Hampshire in an NCAA regional semifinal game, Kozek joined the Thrashers’ AHL affiliate Chicago, appearing in five games and scoring two goals with a +2 plus/minus.
2009-10: Much like in his college career, Kozek found himself in a secondary role on a very good team in his first full season with the Wolves in the AHL. In 69 games, he scored 12 goals with 10 assists and was a +5 with 36 PIM. He appeared in seven playoff games with one assist and was a +1 in limited ice time.

Talent Analysis

Kozek has some talent, but his game is very uneven. He has good velocity on his shot, but doesn’t protect the puck well and isn’t fast. Of the three second rounders the Thrashers had in 2005 (including Pavelec and Denny), Kozek is the furthest behind in development. His skating is suspect at the pro level and he doesn't produce scoring opportunities as consistently as his raw skills suggest he should.

Future

Kozek is fairly low on the Thrashers depth chart and with so many new faces he will be challenged to maintain his spot in the organization. In five seasons since the amazing junior hockey season that got him selected in the second round, he has not come close to that type of production. He has a decent shot and some size, though he is not a particularly physical player. It's hard to see Kozek being more than a fringe NHL player or career AHLer.